Human Cognition Talk: Uncovering the format(s) of visuospatial representations

The most mundane of human activities can reveal the secrets of human cognition. Whether searching for a car in a crowded parking lot, reaching out for an object on a desk, or calling to mind a distant memory, our minds make mistakes. Sometimes, these mistakes may be almost imperceptible. Yet they are never arbitrary. These errors may offer rich insight into the nature and format of the underlying mental representation. In this talk, I am going to discuss three 'case studies' of visuospatial representation, in each case showing how simple behaviors – tiny, seemingly inconsequential errors – expose meaningful cognitive structure. First, I'll discuss the format of location representations in both perception and action. Then, I'll discuss 'intuitive topology' and how topological forms may serve as a format of relational representation. Finally, I'll discuss the phenomenon of (number) adaptation and what it may (or may not) reveal about the contents of visual perception.